While many people are busy writing off 2016 as a bad year for humanity (R.I.P. Harambe), we would just like to point out that it was an awesome year for live music. Locally, newer festivals like TURF, TIME, and WayHome laid the groundwork for years to come while NXNE and Osheaga continued to be favourites. Elsewhere, Drake surprised SXSW, Governors Ball got some serious rain (what else is new?), and one of our editors went all the way to the Niigata Prefecture in Japan to see what it’s like to be at Fuji Rock (spoiler: AMAZING — their recycling system is top notch). We also had time to check shows in Detroit, Chicago, and Atlanta, all while keeping an eye on Toronto and catching artists from Action Bronson to Wolf Parade. We’re not sure what 2017 has in store, but here’s to an unforgettable 2016!
A special thanks goes out to all of the photographers that are featured below: Hannah Jor, Jake Kivanc, Jeff Filman, Joel Pilotte, Julia Marcello, Kate Teegardin, Maggie Elizabeth, Marie Rupolo, Matt Jumper, Seita Goto, Steve St. Jean, and Vee Sanders.
ACTION BRONSON
at Governors Ball (New York, NY)
ALUNAGEORGE
at Bud Light Factory (Austin, TX)
ANDERSON .PAAK
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
BABYMETAL
at Fuji Rock (Naeba, Japan)
BADBADNOTGOOD
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
THE BEACHES
at Bovine Sex Club (Toronto, ON)
BEST COAST
at Osheaga (Montreal, QC)
BLACK LUNGS
at Velvet Underground (Toronto, ON)
BLEACHED
at The Garrison (Toronto, ON)
BRAND NEW
at Rebel Toronto (Toronto, ON)
BROODS
at TIME Festival (Toronto, ON)
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
at Arrow Hall (Toronto, ON)
CARLY RAE JEPSEN
at Pitchfork Fest (Chicago, IL)
CHAIRLIFT
at Lee’s Palace (Toronto, ON)
CHANCE THE RAPPER
at The Meadows (Queens, NY)
CHERRY GLAZERR
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
COURTNEY BARNETT
at Fuji Rock (Naeba, Japan)
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
at Budweiser Gardens (London, ON)
DEFTONES
at Arrow Hall (Toronto, ON)
DESIIGNER
at The FADER Fort (Austin, TX)
DIET CIG
at Hotel Vegas (Austin, TX)
DOWNTOWN BOYS
at Cheer Up Charlies (Austin, TX)
DRAKE
at The FADER Fort (Austin, TX)
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
EARL SWEATSHIRT
at Moody Theater (Austin, TX)
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY
at TURF 2016 (Toronto, ON)
FKA TWIGS
at Pitchfork Fest (Chicago, IL)
FLOSSTRADAMUS
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
FOALS
at WayHome 2016 (Barrie, ON)
FOXING
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
GLASSJAW
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
GREYS
at Swan Dive (Austin, TX)
HOW TO DRESS WELL
at The Mod Club (Toronto, ON)
JIMMY EAT WORLD
at TURF 2016 (Toronto, ON)
JULIEN BAKER
at TURF 2016 (Toronto, ON)
JULIETTE LEWIS
at Wrecking Ball (Atlanta, GA)
JUST BLAZE
at Empire Garage (Austin, TX)
KACEY MUSGRAVES
at The FADER Fort (Austin, TX)
KANYE WEST
at The Meadows (Queens, NY)
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS
at Osheaga (Montreal, QC)
LAURA STEVENSON
at The Drake Hotel (Toronto, ON)
M83
at Rebel Toronto (Toronto, ON)
MAJID JORDAN
at The FADER Fort (Toronto, ON)
METRIC
at The Meadows (Queens, NY)
MEWITHOUTYOU
at Rebel Toronto (Toronto, ON)
MICK JENKINS
at Adelaide Hall (Toronto, ON)
MITSKI
at Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto, ON)
MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK
at Wrecking Ball (Atlanta, GA)
NEON INDIAN
at Lee’s Palace (Toronto, ON)
NICOLE DOLLANGANGER
at Smiling Buddha (Toronto, ON)
PHANTOGRAM
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
PLAGUE VENDOR
at Cheer Up Charlies (Austin, TX)
PORTUGAL. THE MAN
at Arrow Hall (Toronto, ON)
PURITY RING
at Governors Ball (New York, NY)
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
at Fuji Rock (Naeba, Japan)
REFUSED
at Arrow Hall (Toronto, ON)
RUN THE JEWELS
at TIME Festival (Toronto, ON)
SAVAGES
at WayHome 2016 (Barrie, ON)
SCHOOLBOY Q
at Rebel Toronto (Toronto, ON)
SEAN LEON
at The Great Hall (Toronto, ON)
SIGUR ROS
at Massey Hall (Toronto, ON)
SINGLE MOTHERS
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
SNAKEHIPS
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
THRICE
at Rebel Toronto (Toronto, ON)
THUNDERCAT
at Governors Ball (New York, NY)
TINASHE
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
TOUCHÉ AMORÉ
at The Mod Club (Toronto, ON)
TY SEGALL & THE MUGGERS
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
UME
at Hotel Vegas (Austin, TX)
UNDEROATH
at Royal Oak Theatre (Royal Oak, MI)
VINCE STAPLES
at Osheaga 2016 (Montreal, QC)
WET
at The Garrison (Toronto, ON)
WHITE LUNG
at Velvet Underground (Toronto, ON)
WOLF PARADE
at Lee’s Palace (Toronto, ON)
